Display carrier



V. F. DETWEILER DISPLAY CARRIER Nov. 14, `1950 n 2 sheets-sheet 1 FiledNov. 7. 1949 Nov. 14, 1950 v. F. DETWEILER 2,530,231

DISPLAY CARRIER Filed Nov.. 7. 1949 2 sneetssheet z.

5f Mm Z Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT "oFFICE- Vernon F.Detweiler, Lansdale, Pa. Application November 7, 1949, Serial No.125,985V

' This invention relates to 'display carriers,'and more particularly todisplay carriers having a plurality of shelves that are adapted `to beextended so as to more fully display any wares that may be on the lower`shelves.

` Heretofore the majority of display carriers used by vendors going fromdoor to door usually comprise only one shelf on which articles may beplaced for display purposes. The few display carriers that have beenmade with extendable shelves are either toovbulky and complicated tobe'successfully used commercially or else they have a tendency to sagaft-er being in use for a while so that the top shelf rests upon thegoods on the lower shelf. With the foregoing in mind, the principal ob#ject of this invention is to provide a novel display carrier having aplurality of shelves which are relatively extendable, that is sturdy inconstruction y'V and will not become distorted after being used for awhile.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel device of thetype described above that is light in weight and may be easily handled.A further .object of this invention is to provide a novel displaycarrier having the above-mentioned characteristics, that may bemanufactured easily and cheaply and is dependable in use and operation.1

These and other objects of' the invention and 7 Claims. (Cl. 224-48) thevarious features and details of the construction and operation thereofare hereinafter fully set forth and described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof the display carrier in a carryingposition;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the display carrierv resting on theground and having its lower tray extended; Y

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a person holding the displaycarrier in an extended position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the display carrier in the extendedposition as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along theline 5-5 inF Fig. 1;

VFig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 vin Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along'the line 'I-'I in Fig. 1.

The display carrier shown in the drawings consists of two trays, thelower one of which may be thrust forwardly or projected with respect' tothe upper tray so as to display` completely the goods vcarried onboth'ofl the trays." Referring more particularly to thedrawings,"reference nu# meral IIJ designates generally a" displaycarrier made according to the invention andrcomprising upper andlower'trays II and I2, respectively. The trays II and I2 are/rectangularinshape and have flat portions IIaj and-IZa of Vsubstantial nected tothe end of the uppertrayjII adjacent the front vorjforward edge thereofas at I6. The links I4; on the other hand,have their upper endspivotally'connected'to the upper vtray 'II at a point centrally of theends thereof as at II and the lower ends of saidlinksare pivotallyfconnect'ed tothe endsV of the 'lower tray I2 adjacent the back or rearwardedge 'thereof as indicated atm. t

`By this construction it will be observed that the lower tray I2 isconnected to the tray I I in a manner to permit the lower tray to'be'i'ncved relative to the upper tray by `a 'swinging Vmotion betweenthe position shown in Fig. 1 wherein' the two'trays are relativelysuperimposed and'in a position such as shownv in Figs. 2, 3 and 4wherein the lower tray I2 is extended orprjectedfforwardly or in frontof the upper tray II.. n

In the relatively superimposed position ofthe trays shown in Fig..1 ofthe drawing, thefupper tray is arranged to rest uponand be supported byvupstanding legs I9 which are secured cen.- trally of the opposite endsof the lower ,tray-.I2

and have their upper end portions bent-inwardly as .indicated at I9a toprovidev a surface foren-L. gagement by the upper tray II. By this `cnlstruction the tray II is positivelysupported in a at I6 is shown in Fig.6. ltconsistsofv a boltv lllV secured to the upper tray I Il by 'a lock`nut 2 I A bushing 22 is positioned in the link I3 and fric# tion washers23 are positionedon either side: of the link I3 toallowthe link I3 tobeeasilyr'otated 3 with respect to the tray II but still held tight enoughto prevent any outward motion of the link I3 with respect to the trayIl. An elastic stop nut 24 is threaded on the bolt 2l to hold thesevarious parts together and by periodically tightening the nut 24 theassembly may be maintained relatively tight. The fastening means at I8is shown in Fig. 7. In this case two links are pivotally connected tothe tray I2. This construction is similar to the fastening means shownsin Fig. 6 except, to accommodate the extra link, the bushing 22a is ofgreater' length and three friction washers 23 are employed instead oftwo.

A semi-circular handle 25 is connected across the center portion of theuppertray I I toTle used for carrying the display vcarrier I0. handle 25may be made from a piece of ti1 bi ng which is flattened at each end 25afor easy attachment to the upturnd edges l Ib of the tray I I as shownat 26 and 21;k Y l Suitable 4iii'eans for actiating the lower tray I2with respect to the upper trayd provided in the form oa lge'ially Usnape'd braoketZS havnig a nat entrai pb'rnii 2'9 aniigiegg so that havetheir free ends pivotally connected to the upper tray II at the pointofconnecti'on thereto vof the iirks. i4. The, bracket 2811sVcim'nt'-'etai1'to the lwrtray I2 by link V3I wh'ich i`s pivotallyconnected to the lower trayat the points Iilfand iiedly attached to theleg 3Q AofV thebracket 2 8 by slitable fastening inan's `3 2 T hus vitcan be sen'tl'iat the lower tray I2 may be m'oved forward with respectto the uppertray I l by rotating the bracket 28 aboutthe point IT.

i It will be observed that \vlien` the` trays are in the" relativelysuperimposed positionas shown in I EigI 1 the" ontralpo'rtion 29 `adlogs 30 of the bracket 28 are infan adjoiningrelatio'nship with tl'ierear and side. edgs "f'l.l of the i'ipper'tray II'.v TheV bracket 28,isl liel'd` in. this position by a spring catch 33 xedl'y secured to,the central portion of the rear edge I looftheuppeij trayv I I, A1handle 34 is provided centrally of the portion it. faciiitatedisengagement thereof nomini@ catch 33. The catch 33 i's provided with ah orif zontally projecting top porton35 which limits upwardtravel of thebracket 28. To extendthe lower tray I2 withrespect tothe upper tray I Ithe handled is grasped andpulled outward to disengage the bracket 28from ythe spring catch 3 3 and then moved downward with a4 clockwiserotation about the 'pivot point I`I '11o return the trays tothe carryingposition the handle 34 is moved in' a countei'clockwis' motion about thepoint I I. Y The' principal use of this display carrier isjfor vendorsgoing rom'door to door sellingfther goods, and maybe used forpractically any kind of small merchandise. This display caiiier mayeither be set on the ground in tlieppened ,position as shown in VFigUZA,or it may beheld .bythe vendor in the openposition lby `l'1old in'g thecarrien handle 25 injone hand .with the Lupperftray against theYbodylandtlie bracket handle 34 resting against one leg as shown in Fig.3, v While certain embpdimeiits o f this invention have bnmust'rad 'and.described herein. it is tlniended tov limit the nveiitdnftoisuh' dis-vclosures, and changes .and modii'ications may be made, therein andthereto' withinthe scope of the follQWng claims. 'I claiijrii. y Adisplaycarrier co singupper and lower trays" arranged normallysuperimposed rela'- tion, parallel links pivotally interconnecting saidtrays and having their connections to the upper tray disposedsubstantially forward of their connections to the lower tray to provideswinging movement of the lower tray relative to the upper tray to andfrom said superimposed relation thereof and a position in which thelower tray is projected forwardly in stepped relation to the uppeiitray,a bracket for actuating the lower tray pivotally connected t6 the uppertray and to said lower tray, said bracket having a portion arranged inthe superimposed relation of the trays to lie laterally adjacent theupper tray, and latch means secured to the upper tray and releasablyengageableby said bracket portion to retain the trays in sai dsuperimposed relation.

2.v A display carrier comprising upper and lowertrays arranged normallyin superimposed relation, parallel links pivotally interconnecting said-trays and having their connections to the upper tray disposedVsiib'stan'tiallj'f forward o f their connections toY thelower tray toprovide swinging movement of` thelowe'r tray relative to the upper trayto and from said superimposed relation thereof andaposition inwhichtl'ie lower tiay...is projected forwardly in stepped relation totheupper tray, V- iipstanding legs on., the

' lower tray arranged in said. superimposed .relation of the traystoerigageand. support .the upp e`r tray,l a bracket ,for actuating. thevlower tray pivotallyconnect'edgto the upper trayai'id to, saidloweitray, saidbracket havinga portion arranged in the superimposed relationof ,the trays to lie laterally adjatfthappper tray, and ,latch meanssecuredtotli iipper` .tray and releasably engageable bythe intermediatebracket portion to retain the trays' in said superimposed relation. 3. Adisplay carrieicoinprising" upper ,and l'w;v er trays arrangedv normally.in supeiirnposd'relationY parallel links pivotally interconnecting saidtrays and having their connections vtc'itlic upper tray disposedsubstantiallyfdrwa'rd of their connections to the lower traytoprovidevswing# ing movement ori the ,lowei tray,relative to the upper tray toand. freinz said' speriinposed' noiaT tion thereofand a position in"vwli'ch' vthe lo er tray is projected forwardly in stepp'ed relation to:thetiippcr: tray, a bracket Vfor actuating the lower vtray pivotallyconnectedto the 1 'i'ppe`r tray andl having aportion aitiangedlin thesuperimposedA relation of the trays to, lielaterallyr adjacent' theupper links "votall'y..'cori i iect ingthe bracket to -the lowertjiand'lat'ch 'inea-ns 'seoiired to the rearwardedgeofthei upper tray and re li:a s ably.l engageabflebyllthe intermediate b rackett porti n toretain 4the' trays in said super-v imposed relation. L A displaycarrier-comprising upper and lower trays `arranged Y norm lyjinsuperimposed' relation, parallel links pivotally interconnectingsaidaarsianclihaviiis-theirseimetns to the iiir tray disposed substantiallyforwar j:l of,their connections to the lower tray to provide swingingmovement o f, the lp wer Itra v r elative to the v.up per tray to andfrom said superimposed `relation thereof, anda positionin which the10`Wftray is projected forwardly in stepped relationto the upper tray,upstanding legs onthe lower trayv arranged in said superimposed relationofthe' tr a ys te `engage and supmlttheupper trav., abl'kt @actuatingth. lower trayliivtfallr Connected t th@ upper trai/ ,and ,havingaportion arranged intheisiiperjmpcsrlrelaticn of, tne .;t1ays .to,.-liiateraiiy adjacent the upper tray, iiks pivotant connecting the bracketto the lower tray, and latch means secured to the upper tray andreleasably engageable by the intermediate bracket portion to retain thetrays in said superimposed relation.

5. A display carrier comprising upper and lower trays arranged normallyin superimposed relation, parallel links pivotally interconnecting saidtrays and having their connections to the upper tray disposedsubstantially forward of their connections to the lower tray to provideswinging movement of the lower tray relative to the upper tray to andfrom said superimposed relation thereof and a position in which thelower tray is projected forwardly in stepped relation to the upper tray,a bracket for actuating the lower tray pivotally connected to the uppertray and to said lower tray, said bracket having a portion arranged inthe superimposed relation of the trays to lie laterally adjacent theupper tray, a spring catch secured to the upper tray and releasablyengageable by the bracket portion, and a handle on said bracket todisengage the same from the catch and actuate the bracket and lower trayto project the latter into forwardly stepped relation with respect tothe upper tray.

6. A display carrier comprising upper and lower trays arranged normallyin superimposed relation, parallel links pivotally interconnecting saidtrays and having their connections to the upper tray disposedsubstantially forward of their connections to the lower tray to provideswinging movement of the lower tray relative to the upper tray to andfrom said superimposed relation thereof and a position in which thelower tray is projected forwardly in stepped relation to the upper tray,upstanding legs on the lower tray arranged in said superimposed relationof the trays to engage and support the upper tray, a bracket foractuating the lower tray pivotally connected to the upper tray and tosaid lower tray, said bracket having a portion arranged in thesuperimposed relation of the trays to lie laterally adjacent the uppertray, a spring catch secured to the rearward edge of the upper tray andre- 6 leasably engageable by the intermediate bracket portion, and ahandle on said bracket to disengage the same from the catch and actuatethe bracket and lower tray to project the latter into forwardly steppedrelation with respect to the upper tray.

7. A display carrier comprising upper and lower trays arranged normallyin superimposed relation, parallel links pivotally interconnecting saidtrays and having their connections to the upper' tray disposedsubstantially forward of their connections to the lower tray to provideswinging movement of the lower tray relative to the upper tray to andfrom said superimposed relation thereof and a position in which thelower tray is projected forwardly in stepped relation to the upper tray,a bracket for actuating the lower tray pivotally connected at itsopposite ends to the upper tray and having a portion arranged in thesuperimposed relation of the trays to lie laterally adjacent the uppertray, links pivotally connecting the bracket to the lower tray, a springcatch secured to the rearward edge of the upper tray and releasablyengageable by the intermediate bracket portion, and a handle on saidbracket to disengage the same from the catch and actuate the bracket andlower tray to project the .latter into forwardly stepped relation withrespect to the upper tray.

VERNON F. DETW'EILER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,541,211 Ford June 9, 19252,252,021 Morehouse Aug. 12, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date235,293 Great Britain June 10, 1925 262,572 Great Britain Dec. 16, 1926

